Wireless LAN architecture for integrated time-critical and non-time-critical services within medical facilities

Abstract

A wireless local area network (WLAN) system comprises multiple access points that are distributed throughout a medical facility to provide wireless access to a hardwired network. The access points implement multiple WLAN protocols, including a realtime protocol for realtime patient monitoring (telemetry) and a standard WLAN protocol (such as IEEE 802.11 within an ISM band) for providing general-purpose wireless access. Some or all of the access points preferably implement both WLAN protocols such that the different WLANs and wireless device types share network access resources. Some or all of the access points may also include RF location-tracking modules which may be used to track locations of patients, hospital personnel, capital equipment, and/or disposable medical supplies. Also disclosed are an antenna design which may be used with the access points to improve reception (particularly for patient monitoring), and a TDMA timeslot rotation method for avoiding lockstep interference between access points that operate on the same channel.

1. An access point used to track a location of a plurality of patients in a medical facility, comprising:
 a first transceiver module which implements a realtime wireless protocol to transfer time-critical wireless data to the hardwired network with a known maximum latency; and 
 a second transceiver module which implements a non-realtime wireless protocol to provide non-realtime wireless access to the hardwired network, wherein the access point communicates via the first transceiver module and the second transceiver module simultaneously, and further wherein the first transceiver module is used to track the location of the plurality of patients. 
 
   
   
     2. The access point of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless patient transceiver which transmits realtime patient data to the first transceiver module. 
   
   
     3. The access point as in  claim 1 , wherein the realtime WLAN protocol is a TDMA protocol. 
   
   
     4. The access paint as in  claim 3 , wherein the non-realtime WLAN protocol is an 802.11 WLAN protocol. 
   
   
     5. The access point as in  claim 1 , wherein the non-realtime WLAN protocol is an 802.11 WLAN protocol. 
   
   
     6. The access point as in  claim 1 , wherein the non-realtime WLAN protocol is a link management protocol(LMP). 
   
   
     7. The access point as in  claim 1 , wherein the first transceiver module operates in a WMTS band, and the second transceiver operates in an ISM band.